Changes

*'''Alaska'''

*'''Alaska'''

[[Sarah Palin]], one-term Governor and former Vice-Presidential nominee, resigned on July 3rd, 2009 and Lieutenant Governor [[Sean Parnell]] inherited to the governorship. Althhough Alaska has strong Republican-leanings, Parnell is being challenged by Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives John Harris, while Democrat candidates include State Senator Hollis French and former State Representative Ethan Berkowitz.

[[Sarah Palin]], one-term Governor and former Vice-Presidential nominee, resigned on July 3rd, 2009 and Lieutenant Governor [[Sean Parnell]] inherited to the governorship. Although Alaska has strong Republican-leanings, Parnell is being challenged by Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives John Harris, while Democrat candidates include State Senator Hollis French and former State Representative Ethan Berkowitz.

*'''Arkansas'''

*'''Arkansas'''

Republican Governor [[Charlie Crist]] has announced he will not seek a second term and instead run for the [[United States Senate]], meaning there will be an open race. Republican state Attorney General [[Bill McCollum]] and Democrat chief financial officer [[Alex Sink]] are strongly favored to win their party's nomination. Although Barack Obama won Florida's 27 electoral votes with 51% of the vote, they typically elected Republicans to state offices. Public opinion polls have McCollum leading Sink by 1-11 points. <ref>http://www.sayfiereview.com/sayfiereviewcompowerplay-poll-1.php/</ref> <ref>http://www.ronsachs.com/docs/may2009poll.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/florida/election_2010_florida_governor</ref> <ref>http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/08/gop-poll-bill-mccollum-47-alex-sink-38.html/</ref> <ref>http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=1366/</ref>

Republican Governor [[Charlie Crist]] has announced he will not seek a second term and instead run for the [[United States Senate]], meaning there will be an open race. Republican state Attorney General [[Bill McCollum]] and Democrat chief financial officer [[Alex Sink]] are strongly favored to win their party's nomination. Although Barack Obama won Florida's 27 electoral votes with 51% of the vote, they typically elected Republicans to state offices. Public opinion polls have McCollum leading Sink by 1-11 points. <ref>http://www.sayfiereview.com/sayfiereviewcompowerplay-poll-1.php/</ref> <ref>http://www.ronsachs.com/docs/may2009poll.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections2/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/florida/election_2010_florida_governor</ref> <ref>http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/08/gop-poll-bill-mccollum-47-alex-sink-38.html/</ref> <ref>http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1297.xml?ReleaseID=1366/</ref>

*'''Georgia'''

*'''Georgia'''

Although Democrats have dominated Rhode Island politics, they have voted Republican for 7 of the last 9 gubernatorial elections. As Rhode Island has been hit hard by the national recession, Republican Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] has suffered in the polls, however is barred from seeking a third term because of term-limits. [[Lincoln Chafee]], former Senator who was known as the most liberal Republican in [[Congress]], is running for Governor as an Independent, and is a formidable candidate because of his name recognition. Possible Democratic candidates include state Attorney General Patrick Lynch and state General Treasurer Frank Caprio. State Representative Joseph Trillo will seek the Republican nomination, while former state Attorney General Arlene Violet, the first woman ever elected Attorney Geberal, may also run. <ref>http://www.projo.com/news/efitzpatrick/edward_fitzpatrick_0820_08-20-09_BGFE6HF_v26.3987b72.html</ref>  

Although Democrats have dominated Rhode Island politics, they have voted Republican for 7 of the last 9 gubernatorial elections. As Rhode Island has been hit hard by the national recession, Republican Governor [[Donald Carcieri]] has suffered in the polls, however is barred from seeking a third term because of term-limits. [[Lincoln Chafee]], former Senator who was known as the most liberal Republican in [[Congress]], is running for Governor as an Independent, and is a formidable candidate because of his name recognition. Possible Democratic candidates include state Attorney General Patrick Lynch and state General Treasurer Frank Caprio. State Representative Joseph Trillo will seek the Republican nomination, while former state Attorney General Arlene Violet, the first woman ever elected Attorney Geberal, may also run. <ref>http://www.projo.com/news/efitzpatrick/edward_fitzpatrick_0820_08-20-09_BGFE6HF_v26.3987b72.html</ref>  

*'''New Mexico'''

*'''New Mexico'''

*'''Texas'''   

*'''Texas'''   

Former Lieutenant Governor under [[George W. Bush]] and now Governor, [[Rick Perry]] is running for an unprecedented third consecutive term. Perry has alienated some citizens with his support of the Trans-Texas Corridor and social conservatives with an executive order mandating vaccine for school girls. Texas' Senior Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchinson]] is challenging Perry in a primary. Although likable with a large constituency, she has taken some unpopular positions when voting for [[TARP]]. Larry Kilgore, who advocates that Texas succeeds from the union, is running. Democratic candidates include [[Kinky Friedman]], who is running in a second attempt for the governorship, and former State Representative Tom Schieffer.      

Former Lieutenant Governor under [[George W. Bush]] and now Governor, [[Rick Perry]] is running for an unprecedented third consecutive term. Perry has alienated some citizens with his support of the Trans-Texas Corridor and social conservatives with an executive order mandating vaccine for school girls. Texas' Senior Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchinson]] is challenging Perry in a primary. Although likable with a large constituency, she has taken some unpopular positions when voting for [[TARP]]. Larry Kilgore, who advocates that Texas succeeds from the union, is running. Democratic candidates include [[Kinky Friedman]], who is running in a second attempt for the governorship, and former State Representative Tom Schieffer.

==Further reading==

==Further reading==